The U.S.’s Preterm Birth Rate Is Worse than 130 Other Countries (Ouch!)

Here’s some surprising news — the U.S. ranks 131st when it comes to low preterm birth rates. According to a new report, “Born Too Soon: The Global Action Report on Preterm Birth” by The March of Dimes Foundation, The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health, Save the Children and The World Health Organization, 15 million babies worldwide are born preterm every year. More than one million of those babies die from preterm complications – these babies could have been saved if cost-effective care like warmth, breastfeeding support and basic care for infections and breathing difficulties were offered. Babies are considered preterm if they are born before 37 weeks gestation. Health issues associated with preterm birth are breathing problems, developmental problems, cerebral palsy and intellectual disabilities. According to the Institute of Medicine, preterm birth costs more than $26 billion annually.

The U.S. currently has a preterm birth rate of 12.0 per 100 live births and is almost tied with Somalia, Thailand and Turkey. While over 60% of preterm births occur in Africa and South Asia, the 10 countries with the highest numbers include Brazil, the United States, India and Nigeria. There is also a dramatic survival gap between preterm babies born in low-income countries and those who live in high-income countries – over 90% of extremely preterm babies (born before 28 weeks gestation) die a few days after birth, while only 10% of extremely preterm babies in high-income countries die after a few days.

The new report finds that preterm birth rates are increasing worldwide each year and nearly half a million babies are born too soon in the U.S. every year. “This report offers conclusive evidence that the United States rate of preterm birth has been far too high for far too long,” says Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, president of the March of Dimes. “While our country excels in helping preemies survive, we have failed to do enough to prevent preterm births and help more mothers carry their babies full-term.”

The March of Dimes has recommendations to prevent preterm births in the United States: giving women access to health care, behavioral changes like quitting smoking, progesterone treatments for women who have had a previous preterm birth, better management of fertility treatments that result in multiples and making sure hospitals do not offer early inductions or c-sections before 39 weeks gestation if the mother is having a healthy pregnancy.

What do you think of these stats? Are you worried about preterm birth?

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Sarah is the Editorial Assistant at The Bump where she's all about finding the latest and greatest in baby and parenting trends, from the best (and worst!) baby names to the coolest baby products. Ironically, she doesn't have any kids and is 100% single, but she's still obsessed with everything baby-related (much to the embarrassment of her friends). read more

I find this article extremely insulting. I have no affiliation with the health care industry, mind you, but to suggest that inductions and c-sections play a part in preterm labor & birth is side stepping the main issue. The majority of women receiving inductions do so once they are fullterm and around their due date. Not when they are, oh 27 weeks along! And most c-sections occur in the delivery room when labor has complications. My brother & sister & I were all born c-section and within 2 weeks (either past or before) our due dates. My sister was actually right on her due date. Both of my babies were born c-section and neither of them were born early, my daughter being a whopping 10 lbs. My sister in law whom has had 3 children was induced with all 3, after their due dates. My siblings & I have all been very healthy and we have (except my little sister) given birth to very healthy babies who are now very healthy toddlers.

A good direction to look in would be in the dilemma between ultrasound dating and “period determined due dates”. Both of my pregnancies were considered farther along, as much as 2 weeks in one case, than the “period determined due date” suggested. Doctors prefer to rely on period determined due dates than the age of the baby determined by an ultrasound. Which is very strange when you consider that the ultrasound would be an accurate prediction.

Also, I think that there has not been enough attention given to the amount of toxic chemicals in our cleaning products, our homes (mattresses and furniture and carpets giving off toxic gases), our body products that contain chemicals which research and studies have proven cause preterm labor (parabens), and even the food we eat. Society has come a long way by ensuring that all women are given prenatal medical care and prenatal vitamins and that smoking is banned from public buildings, which many European countries have yet to do.

Well, also I think another contributing factor is that we work most of our pregnancy and are under a lot of stress, especially low-income mothers that have to work on their feet all day and take care of themselves and don’t have really good health insurance. And our maternity leave is nothing, nothing compared to Canada or other European countries which get at least 6 months, which they can start using prior to giving birth. Our health care system sucks. I’m almost full term with my 2nd daughter and have to get a c-section. So its crazy to say a significant population of women having preterm babies are having c-sections. I think its presumptuous and is why we have such horrible statistics. Start looking at this in a different way might change our sad numbers.

Most clinics don’t go by are “period due date” after the first ultrasound anymore. I don’t find this article insulting at all.

U.S. isn’t the front runner in health care period.

Ecbeight-
You know what would give you the best due date? Charting your cycles, then you would know the exact date of conception with a 1 or 2 day error. Don’t rely on Dr. to tell you what is going on with your body, you spend 24 hours a day 7 days a week with yourself, the average dr. spends 15 mins tops with you! I know I ovualted on Feb 7 so I calculated by due date to be Oct 30, my ultrasound said Oct 31.